Clasp.



A. T. VAN ALSTYN. Y

CLASP.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 10. 1911.

Patented Oct. 30, 1917.

,FTQ.

ALBERT r. van ALSTYN, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

CLASP.

Application filed June 10, 1911.

T0 aZZ'wkomit may concern: 7

Be it known that I, i-LLBERT T. VAN AL- STYN, a resident of New York, inthe county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Clasps, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to elasps; more particularly to that class ofclasps which are used in connection with gartersand the like but whichmay have a more general application for other similar purposes. Theprincipal object of the invention is to provide a device of this classwhich shall hold the fabric firmly without danger of injuring the sameand which may be positively and securely locked in engagingposition.

F or the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other newand useful objet-ts, as will appear, my invention consists in thefeatures of novelty in the construc: tion, combination and arrangementof the several parts generally shown in the accompanyin g drawing anddescribed in the specification but more particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a front view of a preferredembodimentof my invention in open or unengaged posi tion.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same on line 22, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is, a view of the buckle in closed position engaging fabric.

Fig. at is a cross sectional view on the line at-l, Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the apertured member.

Fig, 6 is a detail view of the pivoted plate which is movable in theapertured member.

Fig. 7 is a detail view of the clamping lever.

Fig. 8 is a detail view of the member which is inserted through theapertured member.

The diiiiculty with devices of this class heretofore has been that inbinding fabrics of a delicate nature they are easily torn if securelyheld and if not securely held they slip easily out of engagement withthe buckle. This invention is adapted to obviate this difficulty bypresenting a large surface for engaging the fabric and a positive meansfor operating the engaging means and locking the fabric securely inposition.

An apertured member 10 is formed of any Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 30, 1917.

Serial No. 632,336.

suitable plain material such as thin metal and the like, the aperture 11being prefcrably rectangular in form. The edges of the member are foldedinwardly and form a guideway 12 at the sides of the aperture. One end ofthe member 10 is bent to form the loop 13 and a resilient clip 14 whichextends below the aperture 11. The other end of the member 10 is bentover at 15 to form a smooth bearing surface and to present a smooth end16 which does not catch the fabric. Projecting lugs 17 provided with theapertures 18 are bent from the side of the member 10 which is oppositethe clip 14:, the opening being adapted to mount the lever 19 by meansof its projections 20. A plate 21 having projections 22 at one end isadapted to be pivotally mounted in the guideways 12 and to be movablelongitudinally therein. .At the other end of thisplate 21 areprojections 23. The lever 19 is provided with perforated lugs 2 f bentfrom the face of the plate and adapted to receive the projections 23 ofthe plate 21. It will be seen by reference to Figs. 2 and 3 that theposition of the plate 21 is governed by the position of the lever 19.This lever 19 is formed at one end with a bent portion 25 and the tonguethus formed by the bent portion provides a stop adapted to engage theplate 21 when the latter is drawn out of engaging position as shown byFig. 2.

is. member 26 is formed of a single piece of metal, rubber, or othersuitable material and is provided at the ends with openings 27, theportion intermediate of the ends being reduced in width and folded uponitself to form a rounded tip 28 substantially parallel with the ends andseparated therefrom by a neck portion 29. r This neck portion 29 ispreferably covered with some suitable resilient material 3O such asrubher or the like. The tip 28 is adapted to be inserted through theaperture 11 of the member 10, the ends, however, being substantially thesame width as the apertured member so that the member26 is retained onone side of the member 10. When the tip 28 is inserted through theaperture 11 the plate 21 may be moved into engaging position withrespect to the tip 28 by the movement of the lever 19. In engaging afabric A the material is placed over the tip 28 and pressed through theapertured member 10 and the plate 21 is movedinto engaging positionagainst the neck port1on29 of the member 26 thereby engaging thematerial which surrounds the tip and pressing the material and the tipin engagement with the edge 15 of the apertured member. It will be seenby reference to Fig. 3 that the lcv r 19 is rotated about its axis untilthe end engages the clip 1% which forces the other end in engagementwith the tip 28 thereby protecting the fabric on the tip and assistingin holding the fabric in engagement with the buckle. When the plate 21and the lever 19 are in engaging position the point of engagementbetween the lever and the plate falls without the line of on gagement asdefined by the end of the plate and the pivotal mounting of the lever sothat the plate 2-1 is held positively in engaging position whether thelever 19 is engaged by the resilient clip 1401' not. It is preferable,however, to employ the clip it as shown.

These clasps are commonly located at the end of a flexible band and insuch connection' there is provided a double looped link 31, to one barof which the loop l of the apertured member 10 is secured, which allowsthe member 10 to swing freely about the bar. The member 28 issupportedfrom the central bar ofthe link by means ofa flexible band 32 whichpasses through the apertures 27 and assists in securing the ends of thesaid member together. Tiisflexible connection 32 permits the member 26to be readily placed in position with respect to the apertured member 10and to be rapidly and easily withdrawn therefrom. The other bar of thelink may be wider than the bar to which the member 10 is secured, asshown by Fig. l to provide a wider surface for the engagement of-aflexible band or fabric While this clasp is particularly adapted for usein connection with garters and the like, his evident that it may have amore general. application and that itis adapted for use in any placewhere it is desired to clamp a fabric for the reason thatfthe tip 28provides'a "large surface for the fabric to be engaged and the engagingmeans is adapted to securely lock the fabric in connection with theclasp.

I desire not to be limited to the exact construction, combination andarrangement of the several parts as herein described, for it is evidentthat those familiar with the art to which this appertains may makevarious changes without departing from thespirit and scope of theinvention.

hat is claimed as new is 1. In a clasp of the class described, thecombination with an apertured member. the sides of which are turnedinwardly to form parallel guidewaysof a second member having a tip whichis adapted to be inserted through said aperture, a plate having sideprojecting 'lugs at one end'thereof which 2.]Iii a cl'asp of the classdescribed, the

combination with an apertured member having guideways alongthe sidesthereof, cf a second member having a tip adapted to be inserted in theaperture, a plate pivotz'illy mounted'about one end and movable in theguideways, a lever pivoted on one side of the aperturedm'ember andhaving pivotal connection with the other end of the said plate, thelever eing operative to move the plate int-he guid'eways whereby the tipengaged in the aperture, the'sa'id apertured member being formed onthej'other side with a resilient clip which is adapted to be on gaged bythe said -lever whereby itis held closed to retainth'e said plate inengaging position.

3, In a clasp of the class described, the

combination with an apertured member having guideways along the" sidesof the aperture and one end'thereof looped over to forma resilient clip,a plate having projecting lugs at one endwhich are adapted to mount itpivotally and slidably 1n the leverbeing operative to movethe plate inthe guideways to clamp thetip in the aperture, the lever being'heldresili'e'ntly when the'plate is in clamping position by the'clip whichengages the bent end of the lever.

at. In a clasoof the class described; the combination with an apertu'redmember ha ingguideways along the'inside'of the aperture'and one'end bfthe member turn'e'd over to formaloop and resilient clip, a secondmember provided with an enlarged tip separated fro'm the other portionby a neck portion and'adaptedto be inserted in the aperture, a platepivotally mounted at one end in the said guideways and longitudinallymovable therein, a lever pivotally mounted on the side of the aperturedmem-' of the plateto'movethe'plate-in the guidewav. and when rotatechtoengage the clip and being operative-to lock the-'plate'againstthe neckof the said second member, the free end of the lever being in contactwith the enlarged tip thereof.

5. In a clasp, a substantially fiat frame having an opening providedwith guideways along two opposite edges, a fabric engaging tip forprojection through said opening, a plate having one end only confinedfor sliding and pivotal movement in said guideways into and out ofholding engagement with said tip, and means for moving said plate, saidmeans including a lever plate, a. pivot for said lever plate fixed withrespect to the frame, the lever plate being hinged at a point remotefrom its pivot to the free end of the first named plate, the first namedplate and the lever plate thereby forming a toggle joint constructionwhereby the first named plate may be moved as specified.

6. In a clasp, the combination with a frame having an opening providedon opposite sides with guideways, of a plate having lugs at one endengaging said guideways to permit sliding and pivotal movement thereofrelative to said frame, a member having a fabric engaging tip forprojection through said opening, and a lever plate pivoted intermediateits ends to said frame, the pivot point thereof being fixedly locatedabove the frame and guideways, said lever plate also being pivoted tothe first named plate to form a toggle joint construction with the oneend of the lever plate forming a gripping means to move the toggleconstruction whereby the first named plate may be moved into or out ofholding engagement with the tip when the latter is projected through theframe opening.

7. In a clasp, the combination with a substantially fiat frame having anopening provided on two opposite edges with parallel guideways ofuniform width throughout their extent, of a plate having lugs at one endengaging said guideways to permit sliding and pivotal movement of theplate relative to said frame, a member having a fabric engaging tip forprojection through said opening, and a lever plate fixedly pivotedintermediate its ends to said frame above the guideways and also pivotedto said first named plate, the two plates thereby forming a toggle jointconstruction with one end of the lever plate as a gripping means to movethe toggle construction whereby the first named plate may be moved intoand out of holding engagement with the tip when the latter is projectedthrough the frame opening.

8. In a clasp, the combination with a frame having an opening providedon two opposite sides with guideways, of a plate having lugs at one endengaging said guideways to permit sliding and pivotal movement of saidplate relative to said frame, a member having a fabric engaging tip forprojection through said frame opening, a lever plate fixedly pivotedintermediate its ends to said frame above said guideways and frameopening and also pivoted intermediate its ends to the free end of saidfirst named plate to form therewith a toggle joint construction havingone end of the lever plate as a gripping member to move the toggleconstruction whereby the first named plate may be moved into and out ofholding engagement with said tip when the latter is projected throughthe frame opening, the remaining end of the lever plate forming atongue, and a spring for engagement by said tongue when the toggleconstruction is in the holding position to maintain the hinged membersthereof against accidental release.

9.111 a clasp, the combination with a framehaving an opening provided ontwo opposite sides with guideways, of a plate having lugs at one endengaging said guideways to permit sliding and pivotal movement of saidplate relative to said frame, a member having a fabric engaging tip forprojection through said frame opening, a lever plate fixedly pivotedintermediate its ends to said frame above said guideways and frameopening and also pivoted intermediate its ends to the free end of saidfirst named plate to form therewith a toggle joint construction havingone end of the lever plate as a gripping member to move the toggleconstruction whereby the first named plate may be moved into and out ofholding engagement with said tip when the latter is projected throughthe frame opening, the remaining end of the lever plate being formedinto a bent tongue to engage and form a stop for the first named platewhen the toggle is in the free position, and a spring for engagement bysaid tongue when the toggle construction is in the holding position tomaintain the hinged members thereof against accidental release.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 8th day of June A. D.1911.

ALBERT T. VAN ALSTYN.

Witnesses:

NINA J. HALsNE, K. W. WVORMELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G.

